10 NEW INFLUENZA A HIN1 CASES REPORTED THURSDAY

SEPANG, July 16 (Bernama) -- Ten new cases of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus
infection were detected Thursday morning involving students of Universiti
Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in southern state of Melaka and one patient at the Sungai
Buloh Hospital in Selangor.

Health Minister, Liow Tiong Lai, when announcing the development admitted
that he was upset by the situation given that the local spread of the epidemic
continued.

He said all senior officers of the ministry, including the director-general,
had been directed to carry out closer monitoring including closing down of
university faculties involved if the situation warranted it.

"I am really upset at the situation when the report came in Thursday
morning. Although it was only ten cases but they were all local cases.

"The infected are all stable but we are worried as when the virus spreads
victims who have complications due to other illnesses can face worse
consequences when they are infected with H1N1," Liow said at a news conference
after a ceremony to present 20 haemodialysis machines here today .

He said this when asked to give the latest developments on the Influenza
A(H1N1) virus in the country.

Liow said of the 10 cases only two were admitted into hospital, one each in
the Melaka and Sungai Buloh Hospitals.

The patient at the Sungai Buloh Hospital had pneumonia complications.

"Eight patients were given outpatient treatment and are quarantined in their
homes," he said.

He said the virus needed comprehensive control as it spread fast and was
easily infectious.

"When H1N1 spreads, sometimes there are deaths, not because of the virus but
to the fact the patients already have other illnesses. So I say that all levels
of society have to take precautionary steps towards the containment and control
of the epidemic.

"Social distancing measures must be taken to prevent the virus spreading to
others. If you are coughing, have a flu or fever, do not spread it to others.
The sickness spreads when there is flu, cough or fever," he said.

When asked about the call that the UiTM Melaka faculties be closed due to
the latest development, Liow said the step would only be taken if the situation
persisted.

"We can't just close the faculties. If all control steps fail then we will
close. As of now all steps have been successful. We can still identify patients
and contacts.

"We need to see where the spread began, whther from lecture halls, hostels
or faculties," he said.

Meanwhile, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the
number of Influenza A(H1N1) cases confirmed in the country was 835 cases that is
562 imported cases and 273 local cases.

He said of the total, 705 or 84 per cent, had recovered, 105 (13 percent)
were being given outpatient treatment at home, and 25 (three per cent) were
being treated in hospitals.

Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that up till 8am
Thursday the number of Influenza A(H1N1) cases reported to the organisation was
116,954, with 557 deaths, from 146 countries, a rise of 2,262 cases from two new
countries that is the Marshall Islands and Tonga.

Countries with the highest number of cases were the Philippines with 959
cases, Australia (561 cases), Japan (488), Hong Kong (78) and South
Korea(55).
-- BERNAMA